Anna Padarath (centre) is one of a group of Fijians holding daily meetings
and
prayers in support of the hostages.
The daughter of a captive Fijian MP is helping lead a silent revolution
on the lapels of the people of Suva.
Anna Padarath and a network of supporters are wearing blue ribbons
as a silent protest at the actions of coup leader George Speight and
his gunmen.
Speight's group continue to hold more than 30 MPs hostage,
including Anna's mother, Lavinia, a Women's Affairs Minister in the
deposed Government of Mahendra Chaudhry.
"The ribbon just shows everybody wants Fiji to be free," Anna
Padarath said yesterday.
"A lot of people are unhappy but are keeping silent. If everybody
would just get up and do something, maybe this could end."
The blue ribbon campaign was begun last week as part of a strategy
by the National Council of Women in Fiji to denounce the May 19
coup and create pressure for the safe release of the hostages.
Each day, supporters gather for a lunchtime vigil in Suva's Anglican
Cathedral to pray and draw strength from each other. Yesterday,
Anna Padarath was joined by Joana Bale, the wife of another
hostage, Regional Development Minister Manoa Bale.
"Among the families [of the hostages], there is a feeling of anger but
there is not a whole lot we can do except wait," said Anna Padarath.
"This is something that brings us together."
The rebel captors allow the families to write to their loved ones,
though now the correspondence is vetted to prevent them receiving
any news of the activities associated with the coup.
"When I was still able to write freely to mum, I told her about the vigils
and she was really grateful. Right now they don't know much at all but
they know we are thinking of them."
The secretary of the council and a long-time friend, Sharon
Bhagwan-Rolls, said the ribbons were made of Pacific blue material to
symbolise Fiji's flag.
She called on people around the world to join in and demonstrate
their support for the hostages by wearing ribbons.
Already, the residents of Suva have responded, despite the risk of
Speight supporters lashing out. People of all races have taken to the
idea, defying Speight's attempts to exploit differences between the
indigenous Fijians and Fiji-Indians.
"It is a peaceful symbol which people are willing to wear," Sharon
Bhagwan-Rolls said.
"There is no point being confrontational because at this stage you are
dealing with people with guns and there is the safety of the hostages
[to think about.]"
One cafe, which has become a distribution point, has a message on
the wall to sum up exactly what the ribbons mean: "Our country is
being held hostage and we the silent majority want it back."
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